How do you approach moving to a new home and beginning building the garden you want?

When you move house, are you the type of person who considers taking the light fittings? Or perhaps ripping and rolling up the carpets, thinking that they might work well in the new shed? Didn’t think so, but what about the garden you’ve carefully maintained for years, if not decades? I think everyone believes it’s fair to transport potted items, but what about bedding plants? Maybe there’s a ceremonial rose that means a lot to you, but surely you have to be careful.

Moving home is considered one of the most stressful experiences, alongside bereavement and supporting Scotland in the World Cup (1998 against Brazil, where we initially annoyed them before paying the price, for instance). Leaving your old garden behind must surely, if you’ve put the effort in, be a wrench.

Gardens are funny things. We don’t simply own them; we invest ourselves in them. Every shrub was once a hopeful purchase. Every tree was planted with the expectation that we’d still be around to see it mature. Every patio chair has hosted a barbecue that was rescued by someone insisting, “It’s only a shower – it’ll pass.”

When it comes time to move, you’re not just leaving behind bricks and mortar. You’re saying goodbye to Saturday mornings with a cup of tea, listening to blackbirds while pulling the odd weed and convincing yourself that next weekend you’ll finally edge the lawn properly.

So, what should you take?

Container plants are the obvious candidates. They were always portable, and they’ll settle into their new surroundings surprisingly quickly. Herbs, citrus trees, favourite hostas and treasured ferns can all make the journey without too much fuss.

Established plants in the ground are a little more complicated. Legally, anything planted in the soil is generally considered part of the property unless specifically excluded from the sale. More importantly, removing mature plants can leave unsightly gaps and disappointment for the new owners who may well have fallen in love with the garden as much as the house itself.

If there’s a particularly sentimental plant – perhaps a rose planted to celebrate a wedding or the arrival of a child – consider taking cuttings months before you move rather than digging up the original. Many roses, hydrangeas, lavender and shrubs can be propagated, allowing a little piece of your old garden to accompany you into the next chapter.

You could even think of it as passing the baton. The original plant remains to be enjoyed by somebody else, while its offspring becomes the first resident of your new garden.

Of course, arriving at a new property can initially be rather deflating. The garden may be neglected, overgrown or simply unimaginative. The temptation is to rush out to the nearest garden centre and fill every available space with colourful bargains.

Resist, at least for a little while.

I recommend spending time watching the garden at first. Notice where the morning sun lands and where the afternoon shade lingers. Discover which corners become wind tunnels and which remain warm enough to enjoy an evening drink. Listen for birds, watch where rainwater collects and find out which areas dry out quickest.

After all, the previous owner spent years creating a garden that suited them. Now it’s your turn to create one that reflects your own personality.

Start with structure before decoration. Healthy lawns, tidy borders, well-pruned shrubs and good soil will reward you far more than dozens of impulse purchases. Add a few large pots for instant colour while you decide on a longer-term plan, and don’t be afraid of empty spaces. Gardens, like relationships, develop over time.

There’s also something wonderfully hopeful about planting in a new place. Every bulb tucked into the ground is a promise that you’ll still be here when spring arrives. Every young tree is an investment in future summers, future family gatherings and future cups of tea enjoyed in the sunshine that inevitably appears five minutes after you’ve given up and gone indoors.

At The Happy Gardener, we’ve helped many people settle into new homes by bringing neglected outdoor spaces back to life or transforming blank canvases into welcoming gardens. Sometimes all that’s needed is a good tidy-up and a freshly cut lawn. Other times it’s a complete rethink, creating somewhere that feels familiar from the very first season.

Leaving an old garden is never easy. It’s perfectly natural to miss the roses you’ve nurtured, the apple tree that finally started producing fruit or the border that looked spectacular every June.

But gardens have always been about renewal.

The plants you leave behind will continue to grow, bringing pleasure to someone new, while the garden waiting for you is full of possibilities. With a little patience, plenty of compost and perhaps the occasional conversation with a stubborn weed, you’ll soon find yourself putting down new roots too.

And if you’re anything like most gardeners, you’ll already be planning where the next rose is going before the removal van has even unpacked the kettle.